No money for the environmental office: MERS has not fulfilled its obligation under the Law on the Special Status of the Municipality of Pljevlja

Although the Law on the Special Status of the Municipality of Pljevlja required the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development (MERS) to open a special office in that city within 120 days of the law coming into force, that obligation has not yet been fulfilled.

The Ministry, responding to questions from "Vijesti", stated that the office was not open due to a lack of budget funds, but that they expect that this problem will be overcome by the end of July.

"So far, offices in the north of the country have not been opened due to insufficient budget funds, but we believe that in due time, by the end of July, these challenges will be adequately addressed so that MERS can dedicate itself to these important projects," the Ministry stated.

Article four of the Law on the Special Status of the Municipality of Pljevlja stipulates that "the Ministry responsible for environmental affairs shall establish a special office based in Pljevlja, whose activities shall be focused on providing professional and administrative support to local self-government bodies and business entities in the preparation of environmental projects under domestic and international funds."

Article 8 of the same law specifies that the Ministry is obliged to open the office within 120 days from the date of entry into force of the law.

Member of Parliament for Democratic Montenegro and proponent of the law, Nikola Rovčanin, expects full respect for legal obligations.

"I expect consistent and full respect for the laws adopted by the Parliament of Montenegro. I expect that from all ministers, regardless of which party they come from. There is no compromise with the interests of Pljevlja," Rovčanin told "Vijesti".

He recalled that the lex specialis for Pljevlja was adopted unanimously and assessed that it represents a historic opportunity to correct decades of injustice towards that city.

He expects the Ministry to fulfill its legal obligation and open an office in Pljevlja as soon as possible, stating that the local government could also provide space for its work.

The Law on the Special Status of the Municipality of Pljevlja was adopted in 2025, and applies from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2030. It stipulates that 60 percent of the funds paid into the Eco Fund by the largest polluters from Pljevlja, primarily the Pljevlja Coal Mine and the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant, will be returned through projects that will be implemented on the territory of that municipality.

One of the important provisions of the law is the establishment of an office of the Ministry of Ecology in Pljevlja, which would provide expert assistance in the preparation and implementation of projects financed from the Eco Fund. However, even after the expiration of the legal deadline, the office has not yet been opened.